Mayer Brown, a leading global law firm, announced that veteran insurance regulatory advisor James R. Woods has joined the firm as a partner and a co-leader of the global Insurance Industry Group. Also a member of Mayer Brown’s Corporate & Securities practice, Mr. Woods will divide his time between the firm’s offices in Palo Alto, California and New York.  Previously, he was a partner at Dewey & LeBoeuf, where he served as co-chair of that firm’s global Insurance Industry Sector Practice.

Strengthening the East Coast foothold of its coast to coast Entertainment Practice, Fox Rothschild LLP has welcomed partners Tim Mandelbaum, Michael L. Reinert and Monika A. Tashman to its New York office.

Burger King Worldwide Holdings, Inc. (Burger King Worldwide), the world’s second largest fast food hamburger restaurant chain, and Justice Holdings Limited (Justice), a publicly listed UK investment vehicle, have announced that they have entered into a definitive business combination agreement.

Simpson Thacher recently represented LPL Financial LLC (“LPL”) in connection with the $1.60 billion refinancing of its current credit facility. The new senior secured credit facility includes a Tranche A Term Loan of $735.0 million maturing in five years, a Tranche B Term Loan B of $615.0 million maturing in seven years and a revolving credit facility of $250.0 million maturing in five years.

DLA Piper announced today that John Altorelli, Alexander Fraser, Patrick Costello and Gerald Francese have joined the firm’s Corporate and Finance practice as partners in New York.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP, announced that Mark I. Peroff and Darren W. Saunders have joined the New York office as partners in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group. Both lawyers join from Hiscock & Barclay, where they were partners and Peroff served as co-chair of the Branding, Trademarks & Copyrights Practice.